The Malawi national football team, the Flames, have surprisingly omitted Mighty Wanderers fullback Timothy Silwimba from the final squad travelling to Ivory Coast to take on Burundi in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
KB’s Zelliat Nkhoma has been dropped due to an injury. In fact he was called into camp while already injured only that FAM authorities could not confirm.
The player has not featured for his team in 3 games now (Against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Creck Sporting and Civo).
According to reports WaGanyu has gathered Nkhoma was absconding Kamuzu Barracks games claiming he was injured.
In a surprising move, the Flames have decided to take three goalkeepers, including Richard Chimbamba of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who will be making his debut in black, red and green.
Silwimba had been included in the initial 25-player squad called into camp by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), alongside fellow left-back Alick Lungu, who recently returned from injury.
However, despite participating fully in training for the last two days, including the morning session, the fullback was informed in his room around lunch hour that he would not be making the trip to Ivory Coast.
A source close to the team revealed to Wa Ganyu: “Silwimba participated in all drills which led him to believe he was in line for the final squad. Unfortunately, he was only informed in the morning that he wouldn’t make the cut.”
Following the decision, Silwimba was told to remain at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe until his teammates returned so he may participate in the match against Burkina Faso at home.
However, rather than staying in the capital, Silwimba has chosen to head back to Lali Lubani to continue his training with his Nomads teammates.
In a related development, Wa Ganyu has learned that a Sulom (Super League of Malawi) official and others have been added to the travelling party, though the identity of the individual has not been confirmed.
With the Flames squad now finalized, the following players will be making the trip to Ivory Coast to face Burundi in Abidjan:
Goalkeepers: William Thole (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers) and Richard Chimbamba (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets).
Defenders: MacDonald Lameck, Maxwell Paipi, Nickson Mwase (Silver Strikers), Gomezgani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu, Alick Lungu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Dennis Chembezi (Al Qasim SC-Iraq), Charles Petro (FC Botosani-Romania).
Midfielders: John Banda (UD Songo), Yankho Singo,Lloyd Aaron (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Lanjesi Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu (Don Bosco-DRC), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Zanaco FC-Zambia), Wisdom Mpinganjira (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers) and Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers).
Strikers: Gabadinho Mhango (Marumo Gallants-RSA), Gadi Chirwa (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers), Richard Mbulu, Lloyd Njaliwa (Costa Do Sol-Mozambique).
